Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
5-11 (0-5P12)
Arizona State
14-3 (5-0P12)
Buffs Fall Short Vs. No. 10 Arizona State
January 15, 2016 | Women's Basketball, Neill Woelk
TEMPE, Ariz. — Matched against one of the best defensive teams in the nation, the Colorado women's basketball team didn't seem intimidated early Friday, jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead over 10th-ranked Arizona State.
But just as quickly as the Buffs grabbed the lead, it melted away. ASU scored the next 15 points of the game to take a 15-6 lead at the end of the first quarter, and the Buffs endured two single-digit scoring quarters en route to a 64-37 loss on the Sun Devils' home court.
The loss, CU's sixth in a row, dropped the Buffs to 5-11 overall and 0-5 in Pac-12 play while ASU improved to 14-3, 5-0.
"Give Arizona State credit," CU head coach Linda Lappe said. "They put the pressure on us early and kept it on. They're a physical team and they contested every shot."
The Buffs never managed to find an offensive rhythm, finishing the game shooting just 25.5 percent from the field (14-for-55). Even their normally sharp eyes from beyond the arc — they entered the game as the nation's 19th-best 3-point shooting team — abandoned them, as they finished just 2-for-13 from long range.
After their six-point first quarter, the Buffs managed just four in the second period and trailed 24-10 at the half. While they finally found some offense in the third period, they couldn't slow the Sun Devils, as ASU increased its margin to 49-25 heading into the final period.
"We were working harder offensively in the second half," Lappe said. "But our defense gave up way too many points."
After a first half in which five different Buffs scored two points each, CU did create more offense after intermission. Kennedy Leonard and Zoe Beard-Fails each finished with nine points for CU each while Quinn Dornstauder had a game-high 15 points for ASU.
The Buffs also held their own on the boards, with ASU taking a narrow 44-38 edge. Haley Smith led Colorado with 10 rebounds to go with four points and Beard-Fails and Makenzie Ellis each grabbed five rebounds.
"Haley's playing tough right now," Lappe said. "She's getting us some extra possessions."
CU's Jamee Swan returned to action after missing the last two games because of an injury. The Buffs senior came off the bench and played 19 minutes, finishing with four points and four rebounds.
One of the biggest differences in the game came in the turnover department. The Buffs committed 21 miscues in the game, which ASU converted into 25 points. While CU did force 13 Sun Devil turnovers, Colorado reaped just three points off those errors.
The Buffs return to action Sunday with a 2 p.m. game at Arizona (Pac-12 Networks).
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